Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-25
THE FUEL QUESTION.
Some Comments on the state OF Affairs
Which Keep Fort Worth from Having
Cheap Fuel.

Some Comments on the State OF Affairs
Which Keep Fort Worth from Having
Cheap Fuel.
a glance over the description of
counties tributary to Fort Worth will
demonstrate that vast quantities of coal
lie nearly at the clty's doors. From the
Fort Worth Fuel Company, the following
figures and facts in regard to fuel used in
Fort Worth have been obtained: The
celebrated McAiister coal, mined in
the Indian Territory, is prin-
Cipally used as fuel i'll Fort Worth. G..
Z. Moorehead was the first local agent
for the handling of this coal, and after
the Texas and Pacific Road reached here
in 1876, it Is estimated that fifty tons of
it was used up to January l, 1873. In
1887 there will be used in the neighbour
hood of 10000 tons. In 1876 no anthra-
cite coal was used, but in 1887 1900 tons
will scarcely supply the demand.
Twenty-four tons of forge coal was used
in 1876, and in 1887 there viii have been
used about $50 tons. These figures make
an interesting table, as follows:
1876. 1887.
Consumption soft coal. so tons. 20 600 tons.
Consumption anthracite
Consumption forge coal. "a tons. $50 tons,
Total. ss..............74 tons. p $50 tons.
These Ogures show how the consump-
ton of coal has swelled wi b but little
manufacturing done in the city. The Nc
AlIister coal is controlled by the Missouri
Pacific Railway system, and, having no
competition, the price per ton has always
been high. 1t now costs about 50 per
ton by the car load.
Nstural gas, though it is believed
to exist, has not yet been obtained
and the city is st the mercy of the Mis-
souri, Pacific system of railway for its
fuel for manufacturing purposes. This
is not as it should be, especially when it
is g well known geological fact that coal
exists il endless quantity within q radius
of 100 miles of the city. In the counties
lying Immediately west, northwest and
southwest of Tarrant are rich coal fields
that only need development to furnish all
Texas with cheap fuel. The counties of
Callahan, Esstland, Young, Stephens,
Hood. Parker, Wise, Jack and Palo Pinto
have coal fields within their boundaries,
ard the same can be said Of many other
counties in Texas. These are named be-
cause of their neaTness and access bilitY
TO Fort Worth. They lie ia a belt of
country described az the true coal fCTmq-
tion by geolCgists. A. Gordon, in Palo
Pinto county, the Texas and Pacific Rail
way is operating o mine, the product of
which is consumed by the company.
There is on exhibition in the office of
the Fort Worth and Rio GTande Railway
in this city of specimens of tiGe hard coal
that is superior to the McAIlister coal,
which, il is claimed, exists along the line
Of that road. The coal in the counties
referred to has never been explored to
any great depth, but it is there, rich and
inexhaustible. 4 feeble effort was made
in the last Texas Legislature to have
geological survey bill passed, the object
of which was TO ascertain the extent of
mineral deposits in the state, but he
Texas legislators, with asInine ignorance
and contemptous disregard Of the best
interests Of the state, defeated the bill.
The extension of the Gulf, Colorado
and Santa Fe Railway through the Indian
Territory, it is believed, will do much
toward solving the cheap fuel problem, as
that road Will tap the coal fields
in that Territory and thus compete
with the Missouri Pacific in furnishing
fuel to the city. The Texas and Pacific
Railway IN crossing the coal field in Palo
Pinto county has struck coal at Gordon,
and each road that crosses the same
formation in the tier of counties west of
Tarrant will also do so. This formation
apparently runs northeast and southwest
across the state, q little to the west of
Terrant county. Fort Worth will in the
very nature of things have cheap fuel in
the near future.
NATURAL GAS.
A Joint stock company has been organ
lied and chartered in this city for the
purpose of boring for natural gas. 1t is
composed of men of means and enter
prise, who will push the work, and spend
q large amount of money in the expert
ment.